Local governments along South Korea's semiconductor belt are competing to establish educational and residential foundations, with Icheon City targeting American private schools for families of SK Hynix employees. This trend reflects a growing PIMFY (Please In My Front Yard) phenomenon aimed at enhancing the sustainability of existing semiconductor clusters and attracting new ones.
According to education officials and local governments, cities that serve as semiconductor hubs are combining the establishment of new schools and specialized universities with improvements in transportation networks and permitting support. This strategy aims to expand the local share of the workforce as companies and employees congregate around large production facilities, providing firms with talent and employees with better educational and living conditions for their families.
Education is at the center of this competition. While Yongin and Honam focus on developing local students into semiconductor technology professionals to meet corporate hiring needs, Icheon is targeting the educational demands of existing employees' children. The goal is to broaden the regional foundation of the semiconductor industry through talent development and family-oriented migration.
The Yongin Semiconductor High School is set to open in March 2027, having attracted 620 applicants for its 128 spots in its first recruitment round, yielding a competitive ratio of 4.8 to 1. The school will offer programs in semiconductor manufacturing and equipment, with plans to transition to a Meister High School by March 2028. Yongin City has been collaborating with Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and local businesses and universities to support the establishment of the school and educational initiatives.
In Honam, universities are pooling their educational resources to align with the semiconductor cluster's operations. Chonnam National University has proposed a 'super-regional semiconductor alliance' that connects high schools, vocational colleges, undergraduate programs, and graduate schools. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) aims to train 1,400 design professionals by 2030 through its newly opened 'GIST-Arm School.' Chosun University of Science and Technology plans to produce over 300 specialized professionals in semiconductor production technology annually.
This educational restructuring also connects the workforce demands of industrial complexes with employment opportunities at local universities. The Gwangju Metropolitan City estimates that the semiconductor cluster will require a total of 23,000 workers. In August, the city, the education office, and 38 local universities participated in a joint declaration for 'regional responsibility in educational transformation.' This initiative aims to link industrial investment with the overall regional educational system rather than merely establishing individual departments.
The competition for attracting businesses extends beyond factory sites. If transportation is inconvenient, it becomes challenging to attract partner companies and their employees, even if they are close to semiconductor production facilities. Local governments are focusing on developing roads that serve both as logistics networks for businesses and commuting routes for residential areas.
The expansion of Local Road 318, connecting Yongin Baegam to Icheon Seolseong, has been included in this year's Gyeonggi Province road construction plan. This project aims to widen a total of 15.3 kilometers from Baegam through Yongin's semiconductor cluster to Icheon Seolseong into a four-lane road. The two cities plan to enhance accessibility between semiconductor production hubs to connect business activities and living areas.
Asan City in South Chungcheong Province is accelerating investment through administrative support and attracting partner companies. The city is promoting pre-consultation and one-stop administrative support for the expansion of Samsung Electronics' HBM production facility in Onyang. It has reduced the disaster impact assessment consultation period from 45 days to 7 days and the road occupancy processing time from 5 days to 1 day. This initiative aims to shorten the time it takes for companies to build factories and facilitate investment execution.
Asan City is also pursuing the supply of industrial complexes that reflect the needs of partner companies and providing local investment promotion subsidies. The establishment of a training system for specialized personnel in semiconductor post-processing, in collaboration with local universities and vocational high schools, is also part of the support measures. The expected benefits of the new Onyang facility include approximately 700 direct jobs and a production inducement effect of 2.6 trillion won. The goal is to expand investment effects into housing and commercial areas following the factory expansion.
Lee Jong-hwan, a professor at Sangmyung University’s Department of System Semiconductor Engineering, noted, "As Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix guarantee high incomes, including performance bonuses, there is a noticeable trend of students opting to major in semiconductors instead of pursuing fields like medicine, which are traditionally seen as the pinnacle of college admissions. As long as the semiconductor boom continues, the PIMFY phenomenon will inevitably strengthen in various regions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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